I have been working on the liberal political project for India for almost 20 years now. During this period, some things have succeeded and some things have not. In this talk I discuss the learnings from this experience and propose a strategy that is more likely to succeed, going forward.

I suggest that all FTI and SBP leaders (who are not willing to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections for which I’ve repeatedly given a call) particularly listen to this and let me know whether they are willing to take this further, at the grassroots. They will need to visit rural areas in the area they live in – perhaps twice a month. We will provide a script and a method to connect with the people. From the rural areas and small towns we will need to identify young leaders in the 22-28 year range who will then be mentored by you and developed into leaders, and possibly funded to take the message of liberty across the entire constituency.

Unfortunately, FTI has been a colossal failure – as have been all my previous engagements with the upper middle class. The upper middle class (or even the middle class) just can’t lead India to liberty (barring a few exceptions). We need to recalibrate our strategy.

Sanjeev Sabhlok

Sanjeevji, of course we need to focus on the villages and small towns but the big cities have a huge populace deprived of the basics of governance. They suffer the same fate as the rural poor, if not worse. I am sure our message will click with them as well. And there is an advantage working with them as these localities are densely populated whereas the rural areas are very widely stretched.

Our opportunity is now Sanjeev.. I’ve mentioned this in the past. I’d like to reiterate my point..

When I came to know of this group 2 years back, I’ve been following every little move of this party, of this blog, of its people and of the governments and their attacks or improvements upon liberty.

It’s tiring. I’m of the view that the best we can hope for, ever, is to have people who strap their rights to their chest and know that they need it. It is NOT us who will win liberty for India, it is the ones whom we’d help awaken.

THEY, will bring Liberty. We’re all too strapped and blocked financially in jobs and all.

I say, let us not contest the Lower house elections. Let us not do it. It isn’t worth the fight. We have liberty on ground, people hungry to see the light, people willing to fight and be our soldiers in this journey. Why wait for a task that is all but unattainable at this point?

We musn’t underestimate that ‘moral reserves’ are limited too. Once dis-spirited, it isn’t easy to bring oneself together.

The fire is here, let’s catch our chance, NOW! Please ask Rabi for whaen the panchayat, local council or town administration polls are due, and we can seize this moment!

I defer from you, when you say we’d need six years. We’d need all but 2 years!! This is sheer gold Sanjeev. This freedom! The people will be willing to take it to places so far away from Bhadodhi that we’d be left stunned. All we need to prove is what liberty feels like!

And our chance is here! It is a position of littler power, but not less significant! These township, gram panchayat elections.. given the kind of support we see in the pics! Are very very much attainable!!

Why let this go? No major national party will simply let a general election district go without a fight. Money, muscle and intimidation are all we’d be fighting. But if we have to do it anyways, why not do it in an area where we CAN win majority and ENFORCE our rules and show them what our values look like?!

Given the amount of effort that is invested, morally too, I see that it only worthy of us to fight this. We need to pick our fights, why not choose one where we can actually prove our mettle? apart from having an infinitely larger chance of winning?

We would also not need to keep these hungry souls waiting.. they can feel liberty once we’re in power. Whatever our powers in office would be then..

A villager is much likely to see the light and Truth in freedom when he can feel it, than when we’re vaguely influencing national policy by winning a few Lower house districts. The poor, hungry, caste-oppressed might not feel the difference we’re making here..

They’re with us now. Let’s catch this!

It’s one battle we could say we’ve won in this lifetime, for whatever it’s worth! The chance is here ahead waiting for us, let’s not let it go!

I agree, but it the poorer sections of a city are much more mobile and may not belong to that city as a voter. It is generally going to be harder to find stable leaders from amongst them. And those you find will move out vertically or laterally. People like Sanjay, who are well-established in a town, are a different matter.

I do mean town, village elections. Anywhere where we can gain ground in council administrations — towns, villages or cities.

Sanjeev, think about that for a second, what you said. You used the word ‘educate’.. our think-tanks can do that job. We will not be able to change the nation with a few seats in the lower house assuming we win them.

I fear we’d be wasting a few good years in this exercise. We need parliamentary majority or support.

Our parliament lacks not sane voices, many speak up in brilliant ways. They do not have the numbers to get their rationality to Law.

Merely speaking the rational stuff in parliament and expecting change may seem like a way.. I’m afraid it wouldn’t bring much though.

The call is in your hands and those you know in the party.. I hope we can take the way that may seem insignificant today, but I know will bring fruits and successes larger than imagined.